West Point Island is one of the Falkland Islands, lying west of West Falkland, from which it is separated by the Wooly Cut channel. It has an area of slightly less than 15 kmē and is run as a sheep farm.
The highest point on the island is Mount Misery at 369 metres, while a settlement and airstrip lie in the north east. Wildlife on West Point includes rockhopper penguins, black-browed albatrosses and Commerson's dolphins. The island was originally known as Albatross Island and was a popular site for slaughtering seals and penguins for oil.
The WestPoint Lighthouse was constructed in 1875 and was first lit on May 21, 1876.
With a total height of 20.6 meters (67 feet 8 inches) from ground to vane, WestPoint Lighthouse is the tallest and most pleasing of the square design lighthouses on the Island.
As the first lighthouse built by the federal government on the Island, the lighthouse is associated with the transfer of responsibility for aids to navigation from the colonial government to the new Federal Department of Marine.
The forts at WestPoint, which include Fort Clinton and Fort Putnam, were held by the Americans from 1778 to the end of the war in 1783.
In the spring of 1779, Benedict Arnold was commander of WestPoint but it is believed that Arnold was disenchanted with his superiors for their lack of appreciation of his service.
The statue is in front of the cadet quarters near the main parade ground and the WestPoint Plain.
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